Bikram Yoga is Not Good for Everyone

interesting.

I personally find that Bikram is MUCH more effective than any other type of yoga…I have been practicing for 5 years now…and discovered Bikram recently…and have made great strides in balance and flexibility.

I swallowed the kool-aid…and admit it may be placebo…but I can not argue with the incredible results its gotten me.

Rebecca, I just happened to come across this article and thought of you!

http://www.bikramyoga.com/testimonials/HerniatedDiscs.htm

Of course, any activity can be harmful for anybody at any time. It isn’t an issue of Bikram’s per se, but an issue of individual physiology. Saying that we need to emphasize that Bikram’s may be harmful for example in the form of a handout before class would be like saying that one should have a handout stating that you may fall off a bicycle or injure yourself if you purchase a bike. Or that a warning should be issued with every sports shoe sale (Warning: walking may cause injury to hip flexor muscles and or knee and ankle joints. It is possible to trip and fall while walking; head injuries may result. Please walk with extreme caution. If you experience discomfort when walking, aches or pains in your knees, ankles, shoulders, or lower back, please seek medical attention). When did we all lose common sense? And when did we decide that others should be responsible for making sure we don’t cause injury to ourselves when we choose to participate in physical activities?

I think the primary issue here is devolving personal responsibility and the consequences of one’s choices to others — we are all adults. We all have free choice. We all choose the activities that we participate in. If someone chooses to push themselves to and past the point of injury then no one else is to blame! Bikrams is a structured form of exercise and unfortunately it is easy to point to the teacher or the heat or the sequence if injury is encountered. However, it might be wise to keep in mind the following:

1. Every instructor in every Bikram’s class I have attended (multiple classes, multiple cities, multiple countries) has stated that one needs to listen to one’s body, and do 100% of what they CAN DO ON THAT DAY and to accept their body’s limits. That 100% expression of the pose is less important than correct form and that one needs to listen and react to where they are physically on that day.

2. If a person has an injury, they need to see a qualified health care professional if they are questioning whether or not they should continue to exercise. This goes for injuries sustained while walking, climbing stairs, running, swimming, yoga, pilates, Zumba, spin class, whatever. One cannot heed the advice given to them by unqualified practitioners, then blame the form of exercise or the teacher for their subsequent problems. If I twist my ankle during a step class, the LAST person I would seek medical advice from would be the step instructor. The same goes for any Yoga instructor, Bikram’s or not, unless they were appropriately qualified and licensed to practice medicine.

3. No one has a gun to your head in a Bikram’s class and forces you to do anything. If you choose to modify your poses, so be it. However, common studio practice etiquette is that you do so in a back row and discretely. If you have to modify to the point where the pose is unrecognizable or your instructor won’t permit straps or blocks, then just sit the pose out, and find another studio or instructor. If you are discrete and listen to your body and do what you need to do respectfully, I have never ever seen any instructor take issue with it. I HAVE seen instructors urge specific students to do certain things, such as take a wider stance, but realistically, there isn’t enough “free time” in the dialogue for the instructor to take issue with a student’s compliance UNLESS the student is disruptive, talking, jumping around, or not following the sequence in a disrespectful way. To this end, sometimes a word before class to the instructor, such as “my knees are really sore today and I will try as hard as I can” prevents alot of issues with respect to instructor/student interactions.

If we all take some personal initiative and responsibility and are proactive with our physical state, refrain from blaming the activity/instructor when injury occurs, and are using common sense while practicing, one can practice Bikram’s to their heart’s content.

Not all activity suits all people: it isn’t the fault of the activity nor the instructor nor the coach nor the company that sells the shoes. Nor is it the fault of Bikram if one chooses to work past the point of pain to the point of injury and beyond. You are ultimately responsible for your choice of activity. Some do Bikram’s; some do not. Either choice is equally valid.

Freia